BY OLIVIA MIWIL - 25 SEPTEMBER 2015 @ 4:58 PM
KOTA-KINABALU: The state government will look into the possibility to waive visa requirement for China tourists who come to Sabah in small groups.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the evaluation would be made during the six month implementation of the temporary social pass which will take effect in Oct 1.
"It has been highlighted in the past that the travelling trend has changed which tourists from China travel here in four to five of family members.
"We will constantly evaluate the issue and our counterpart in federal have also agreed to reexamine the condition," he said after launching the Borneo International Orchid show here.
Masidi was responding to Sabah deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan's recent proposal to allow visa-free to China tourists in Sabah without any conditions.
The waiving of visa will only be granted to group tourists from China traveling with tour operators registered with the Tourism and Culture ministry.
Other conditions include the group must consist of at least 20 people and will be limited to 15 days for each entry into Malaysia.
The approved entry points are by air transport via KLIA, KLIA-2, airports in Penang, Senai, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi
As of July this year, China tourist arrivals in Sabah is at 147,145.
Masidi added the policy adjustment in future was essential as the state government need more people to come for the tourism industry to make money.
"We will lose out to other countries if we are not doing anything."
Earlier, he described the three-day orchid exhibition as an educational programme for the public on the beauty oforchids.
In Sabah, there are about 1,300 orchid species with 870 are available at Kinabalu park.
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| Pix by Edmund Samunting |
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